Self-cycling ratchet-stepping switch



Sept. 14, 1954 D. E. HOOKER 2,689,281

SELF-CYCLING RATCHET-STEPPING SWITCH Filed June 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INDEXES ON HALF-STROKE INVENTOR. Donald E. Hooker Sept. 14, 1954 HOOKER 2,689,281

I SELF-CYCLING RATCHET-STEPPING SWITCH Filed June 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LAMPS INDEXES 0N HALF -5TR0KE EL REMOTE 2 57 6| 62 comraoz. 55

"F swrrcH 2 INVENTOR Donald E. Hookr ON HALFSTROKE Patented Sept. 14, 1954 UNITED SELF- CYCLING RATCHET- STEPPING SWITCH Donald E. Hooker, Skokie, Ill., assignor to Raymond T. Moloney, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 9, 1952, Serial No. 292,476

9 Claims.

This invention relates to electromagnetic stepping switches, and has at its principal object the provision of a device of this class which is capable of high speed step-by-step operation, and which is self-cycling and especially adapted for use in remote control units for selecting circuit connections.

One of the important features of the disclosure is the provision of a rotary stepping ratchet wheel having an indexing pawl or dog contrived to stop the ratchet wheel before it can complete its advancing step, together with means for releasing the index dog to permit the wheel to complete its unfinished step, and switch means operated by the completed stepping action to further advance the ratchet wheel.

Viewed from another aspect, the invention provides a stepping ratchet-wheel mechanism suitable for driving any appropriate device, especially a rotary switch, and having a self-cycling pulsing circuit for a driving solenoid, said circuit including a breaker-switch for the solenoid and which is actuated by a stepping-dog lever and spring mechanism such that the ratchet wheel will tend to step continuously, there being further provided an indexing stop dog and releasing means therefore which will stop the wheel in an incomplete step with the breaker switch open, in such manner that the cycling advance of the ratchet wheel will immediately recommence when the index dog is released to permit the ratchet Wheel to complete its unfinished step.

Additional advantages, objects, and aspects of novelty and utility relate to details of the construction and operation of the device, as will appear hereafter in the detailed description of the device taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the stepping mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the rat ,het stepping, indexing, and release mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram.

As viewed in Fig. 1, the stepping switch comprises a base plate in which is journaled a ratchet shaft I I carrying a stepping ratchet disc l2 having teeth 13.

A holding dog 14 is pivoted at IE on the base plate and is urged by a spring l6 to engage in the teeth [3 to prevent retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel. (See also Fig. 3 for these details.)

Pivoted at I8 (Fig. l) on the plate H1 is a stroke or drive lever I!) having at its opposite end certain offset lugs, including the lug 20, which projects into a bore in the plunger 29 of a stepping solenoid 30.

This same end or the stroke lever also is provided with a switch-operating yoke or bifurcation afforded by a pair of offset lugs 2| directed oppositely from the plunger lug 29, the purpose of which will shortly appear.

The aforesaid lugs 20 and 2| also appear to advantage in Figs. 2 and 3.

Pivoted on pin means 24 (Fig. 1) is a driving or stepping dog 25 urged by spring 26 into engagement with ratchet teeth ill to step the ratchet wheel one tooth at a time responsive to oscillation of the stroke lever.

A driving spring 21 pulls the drive lever in its driving stroke; whereas the solenoid 39, in attracting its plunger 29, pulls the lever down to retract the dog 25 preparatory to its advancing stroke under urgency spring 21.

Indexing means for stopping the ratchet wheel in an incompleted, half-stroke, includes an indexing or stopping dog (Fig. 1) adapted to be released by a solenoid 40, the construction being shown to better advantage in Fig. 3, wherein the dog 35 is seen to be pivoted at 36 and to have an extension 38 engaged with the plunger 39 of a release solenoid 40. The latter solenoid is provided with an internal spring (not seen) in its bore, which raises the plunger 39 to dispose the indexing dog in a normal stopping'or indexing position (as in Fig. 3) with its offset stopping lug 3"! situated in the path of stop pins [2A, I213, etc. These stop pins are distributed as desired about the ratchet disc, only four such pins being shown.

One of the important features of the construction is the fact that the indexing dog or lever 35, and its stop lug 31, are disposed in relation to the indexing stops or pins IZA, lZB, etc. and the ratchet teeth [3, so as to stop the ratchet wheel always on an incompleted or half-stroke, such that when the dog 35 is released, as by energization of release solenoid 40, the driving pawl or dog means Ill-25 can complete the stroke and advance the ratchet wheel l2 the remaining half-step.

Referring to the circuit diagram of Fig. 4, the selective stepping and indexing means includes a breaker switch (which is'actually mounted on the base plate H) as in Figs. 1 and 2), and which is of the so-called stack or Jack variety, and is also preferably snap-acting.

The breaker switch 50 includes an actuating and contact blade 52 having a free-end portion 5| projected into the yoke formed by the offset lugs .31 2| on the stroke lever, so that for each complete power stroke (by spring 21) of the stroke lever l9 contacts 52, 53 of the switch will be closed.

The driving or stepping solenoid 30 has one terminal connected, as at 54, to a power source, such as battery 55, while the remaining solenoid terminal is connected by conductor 56 to switch contact 53. The companion switch contact 52 is connected by conductor 51 to the remaining power terminal, so that closure of contacts 52, 53 will energize the driving solenoid 30 to pull the stroke lever and position the stroke dog 25 to advance the ratchet wheel by the amount of one tooth, under urgence of the drive spring 21, when the solenoid 30 shall be de-energized as by opening of the power contacts 52, 53.

As soon as the stroke lever l9 completes its retractive or initial stroke under urgence of solenoid 30, the switch blade portion 5| will be flexed by one of the yoke lugs so as to snap the switch and separate contacts 52, 53 to open the power circuit to solenoid 30, thereby freeing the stroke lever I9 for the remaining driving or advancing phase of its stroke by spring 21, at which time the switch blade portion 5| will again be flexed to snap the switch 50 closed.

Thus, if nothing interferes with the free rotation of the ratchet wheel I 2, the latter will be stepped continuously, snapping the switch 50 closed, then open, to produce a rapid but intermittent turning of the wheel l2 and its shaft However, the indexing dog or pawl means 35, 31 is normally positioned to be engaged by any of the stop pins |2A, |2B, etc., and the latter are related to the indexing dog and the lever I9 so as to stop the ratchet wheel and the lever IS in an incompleted or half-stroke; and the yoke lugs 2| are related to the switch actuating blade part 5| so as to leave the switch 50 in an open circuit condition so long as the stroke of lever l9 remains incomplete, whereby the otherwise continuous stepping action of the ratchet and its drive means 21-40 is stopped by the pinstopping action of the index dog 35 in its normal position.

Means for withdrawing the indexing dog from normal or stopping position includes the release solenoid 40, which is connected in a control circuit including a power source such as battery 50 connected by conductors 6|, 62, 63 in series with switch means 64, designated as a Remote Control Switch.

The stepping unit is adaptable to a multitude of uses; and in the embodiment shown, it is adapted to operate a stepping or selecting switch for use in a television channel-selection, remotecontrol unit.

Accordingly (as in Fig. 2), there is secured on the rear side of the base plate I0 a stationary contact disc 10 having a plurality of contact buttons 1| adapted to be engaged by a rotary wiper contact 12 fixed on the shaft ll. As indicated in Fig. 4, the contact buttons H are intended to control channel-indicating lamps in a television receiver; and the shaft II is intended to be extended to a tuning device (not shown) in such a receiver, the operation of the stepping switch I Summary of operation The ratchet wheel l2 and its shaft II will be rotated rapidly, step-by-step, so long as the dog 35 is withdrawn.

Closure of the remote control switch 64 will energize the release solenoid 40 to withdraw the indexing dog means 35-3|, thus freeing the ratchet wheel |2 to complete its step, so that lever I9 can complete the closing operation of switch 50, thereby again energizing the driving solenoid 30.

If the release solenoid is held energized at the option of the operator of switch 64, the wheel l2 and shaft II will continue to step indefinitely, and may be stopped in any desired indexing positionby opening switch 64.

The stepping switch is self-cycling in that its driving circuit 52 to 51 for solenoid 30 is wholly separate from its control solenoid means 40 and circuit 6 |64, so that the driving circuit is closed at once upon withdrawal of the indexing dog 353| by completion of the interrupted advancing stroke or step; and the foreward stepping of the ratchet wheel will commence promptly from any indexed position, regardless of what means may be employed to effect the withdrawal of the indexing dog.

I claim:

1. A ratchet-type stepping mechanism including a rotatable ratchet wheel, an oscillabledrive lever and dog means actuated thereby for stepping said wheel, electro-mechanical means including a power spring and a solenoid having driving connection with said drive lever for oscillating the latter, a power circuit for said solenoid, and a breaker switch for opening and closing said circuit, said switch being actuated by oscillatory movements of said lever; and index means including a releasable indexing dog cooperable with said ratchet wheel to stop the same in positions of incomplete advances, said switch means being maintained in condition to interrupt said power circuit in the incompleted oscillatory movements of the drive lever as aforesaid, and being operated by completing movements of said lever to reclose said circuit.

2. In a stepping switch of the type having a rotatable ratchet wheel with stepping mechanism operable to advance the wheel one step at a time, and electromagnetic means energizable intermittently to actuate the stepping mechanism, improvements comprising, to wit: a self-cycling operating circuit for the electromagnetic driving means, said circuit including a switch connected to open and close an energizing power circuit to said electromagnetic means; means providing an operating connection between said stepping mechanism and said switch to actuate the latter to open and close said circuit repetitiously cooperatively with the stepping of said ratchet wheel. whereby to provide for continuous stepping operation of said wheel; and index means including a dog cooperable with stop means on said wheel for stopping the latter in interrupted intermediate positions of stepping advance to prevent closure of said power circuit by said switch, together with means urging said wheel to complete any interrupted advancing step as aforesaid, whereby to close said power circuit for resumption of stepping of the wheel.

3. In a stepping switch: a ratchet wheel; stepping mechanism including a stepping pawl for advancing said wheel step-by-step; oscillable lever means for stepping said pawl; spring means urging said lever means in a direction to step said pawl to advance said wheel; electromagnetic means energizable to move said lever in the opposite direction for preparing the pawl to step the wheel; index stop means on said. wheel; an index stop dog movable into and out of stopping position relative to said stop means. to stop and release stepping advances. of said wheel; said stop means and said index stop dog being spatially related relative. to the. ratchet parts of said wheel to stop the stepping advance of the latter before the completion of any full advancing step; a pulsing switch adapted to be connected in a power circuit for said electromagnetic means; and switch operating means coacting with said stepping mechanism to close said switch substantially at the completion of each full advancing step of said wheel; said stop means and stop dog being related to arrest advance of said wheel to prevent completion of a full step thereby and prevent closure of said switchgsaid spring means actuating the stepping mechanism to complete the arrested step and cause closure of said switch for a resumption of stepping action; together with selectorv switch means driven with said ratchet wheel.

4. In a ratchet mechanism for stepping switches and the like, a ratchet wheel and stepping mechanism for advancing the same step-by-stcp; a drive spring and electromagnet cooperable in alternation to actuate said stepping mechanism; a breaker switch repetitiously operable to open and close a pulsing circuit for said electromagnet; means operatively interconnecting said stepping mechanism and switch to open and close the latter once for each full step of said ratchet wheel, the stepping movement of said wheel being effected by said spring following a pulsing of said electromagnet; and index stop means for interrupting the stepping of said wheel prior to completion of a full step whereby to prevent operation of said switch and electromagnet; said spring actuating the stepping mechanism to complete the interrupted step and effect attendant switch operation for a resumption of stepping action.

5. In a stepping mechanism, a ratchet wheel to be advanced step-by-step; a driving pawl movable in one phase to select a ratchet tooth and in another phase to drive said tooth and wheel one full step; electromagnetic means for moving said pawl in the selecting phase; spring means for moving said pawl in its driving phase; switch means in an operating circuit for said electromagnetic means and including an operating member movable through a full stroke between two limits in which the switch is respectively open and closed; means providing an operating interconnection between said switch operating member and said stepping pawl for producing a full operating stroke of the switch operating member in step with each full operating cycle of the stepping pawl, index means for interrupting the advance of said ratchet wheel to prevent completion of a full step thereby; said switch operating member acting to interrupt completion of a switch-closing operation of said switch-op crating member and to hold said switch open in any indexed condition of the ratchet wheel; said spring means acting to complete any interrupted step of the ratchet wheel whereby interrupted switch-closing movement of the switchoperating member is completed to automatically cycle the switch and stepping mechanism for rapid continuous stepping action subject to selective indexing interruption as aforesaid.

6. In a stepping mechanism, a toothed member to be stepped; drive means including a stepping pawl movable through a. predetermined driving stroke to advance. said toothed member by a distance of one tooth; electromechanical means having driving connection with said drive means and operable responsive to intermittent electrical energization thereof to actuate the drive means and move said pawl in a complete driving stroke as aforesaid; an energizing circuit for said electro-mechanical means; a switch in said circuit and including an actuating member movable between predetermined open and closedcircuit limits to open and close said circuit and further having an indexing position between said limits in which said circuit is held open thereby; means providing a driving interconnection between said pawl drive means and, said switch actuating member for moving the latter to said limits through said indexing position thereof; indexing stop and release mechanism for selectivel-y stopping and releasing said toothed member in indexed positions before the latter can complete an advancing step as aforesaid; movement of said switch-actuating member being interrupted and stopped by said driving interconnecting means in the indexing condition thereof in the direction of movement of the actuating member which is toward said closed-circuit limit, whereby to hold said circuit open until such time as the toothed member is released from indexed condition to complete its interrupted advancing step, so that said switch actuating member can thereby also be permitted to complete interrupted movement toward said close-circuit limit and again cause energization of said electromechanical means; together with means for actuating said indexing stop and release mechanism to selectively index and release the toothed member as aforesaid.

7. A self-cycling ratchet stepping device, comprising: a toothed member to be advanced by full predetermined steps; stepping mechanism including a stepping pawl movable in one direction to select a tooth of said member and in the opposite direction to urge said tooth and drive member a stepping distance of one tooth; electromagnetic means for moving the pawl in said selecting direction; spring means for moving the pawl in said opposite driving direction; index dog means cooperable with said toothed member for interrupting the driving advance of the toothed member to stop the same in an indexed position and prevent completion of a full step thereby; an energizing circuit for said electromagnetic means; a switch included in said circuit; means cooperable with said stepping mechanism for operating said switch through a complete operating cycle for each completed advancing operating cycle of said stepping mechanism such that said switch is closed substantially at the completion of any full advancing step of the toothed member, and opened substantially at the completion of a full tooth-selecting movement of the stepping pawl; and indexing means including selectively located stop parts on said toothed member and stop dog means movable into and releasable out of stopping engagement therewith for arresting the advance of the toothed member to prevent completion of a full step thereby and concommitantly interrupt completion of the switch operating cycle to prevent closure of said switch; the interrupted step of the toothed member and operating cycle of the switch being completed the known type having a ratchet wheel advanced step-by-step by pawl means driven by a spring and initially conditioned for spring operation by stepping electromagnetic means, together with breaker-switch means coacting with the pawl means to open and close an energizing circuit for said electromagnetic means, whereby to rapidly actuate the pawl means and efiect continuous stepping of the ratchet wheel, said improvements comprising, to wit: indexing stop dog means movable into, and releasable out of, stopping engagement with selectively located stops on said ratchet wheel, each of said stops being critically located to stop the ratchet wheel in indexed position on substantially the half-step thereof to prevent completion of a full advancing step thereby; and breaker-switch means as aforesaid having driving interconnection with said pawl means to interrupt closing operation of the switch responsive to stopping of the ratchet wheel in any in- 20 dexed position thereof as aforesaid, whereby to selectively interrupt stepping advance of the ratchet wheel in predetermined desired index positions, release of the indexing dog means permitting said wheel to complete an interrupted step and resume operation of the breaker switch and consequent stepping action of the ratchet wheel; said ratchet wheel being adapted to actuate a controlled instrumentality.

9. Improvements as set forth in claim 8 and further characterized by the provision of control mechanism including an indexing electromagnet energizable for causing movement of said stop dog into and out of indexing position as aforesaid, and a control circuit, which is independent of said energizing circuit for said stepping electromagnet means, for selectively energizing said indexing electromagnet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,362,690 Fichter et a1. Nov. 14, 1944 2,436,714 De Moss Feb. 24, 1948 2,449,178 Sansbury Sept. 14, 1948 

